City guide 05 · Adelaide, South Australia

Ride Adelaide properly.

Ten local favourites, from the Norton Summit classic to the Gorge Road–Cudlee Creek–Lobethal hills. Every route includes a Google Maps preview and a ready-to-load GPX track.

Explore the routes Download all GPX

Routes: 10
Total options: 494 km
Biggest day: 1,120 m

Victoria Square

01Norton Summit Classic Loop38.9 km · 680 m

01 Local consensus, not generic tourism loops

02 GPX files ready for cycling computers

03 Google Maps links for quick planning

Adelaide shortlist

Ten rides worth knowing

From Adelaide Hills climbs to flat coastal and river-trail spins, ordered by local consensus.

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10 of 10 routes

01 Hard

Adelaide's benchmark first hills ride

Norton Summit Classic Loop

38.9km

680metres up

Adelaide's benchmark first hills ride

Route notes

The essential Old Norton Summit climb, returning through Uraidla and Greenhill Road.

Surface: Paved roads
Watch for: Popular climb with narrow sections, traffic and a fast descent; ride early and hold your line.

Starts Victoria Square

Guide Map GPX

02 Expert

A major endurance day with sustained climbing

Gorge Road–Cudlee Creek–Lobethal

77.6km

1,120metres up

A major endurance day with sustained climbing

Route notes

A long Adelaide Hills circuit using Gorge Road, Cudlee Creek, Lobethal and Norton Summit.

Surface: Paved roads
Watch for: Remote stretches, narrow shoulders, debris and changing weather; take lights, food and water.

Starts Victoria Square

Guide Map GPX

03 Expert

A compact but serious summit ride

Mount Lofty Summit Loop

47km

930metres up

A compact but serious summit ride

Route notes

A direct city-to-summit challenge via Crafers and Mount Lofty, returning through the hills.

Surface: Paved roads and sealed bikeway connections
Watch for: Steep grades, tourist traffic and technical descending. Check summit access and hills weather.

Starts Victoria Square

Guide Map GPX

04 Hard

Climbing practice without an all-day distance

Corkscrew–Gorge Road Loop

48.5km

660metres up

Climbing practice without an all-day distance

Route notes

A punchy hills loop pairing Gorge Road with Adelaide's short, steep Corkscrew Road climb.

Surface: Paved roads
Watch for: Corkscrew is steep and exposed; Gorge Road carries vehicles and can collect debris near the edge.

Starts Victoria Square

Guide Map GPX

05 Easy–Moderate

Scenic recovery kilometres and newer riders

Glenelg–Semaphore Coast Return

36.9km

80metres up

Scenic recovery kilometres and newer riders

Route notes

A flat coastal out-and-back linking Glenelg, Henley Beach and Semaphore.

Surface: Sealed shared paths and connecting streets
Watch for: Busy shared paths, pedestrians, dogs and beach crossings; slow down and give way.

Starts Glenelg Jetty

Guide Map GPX

06 Moderate

Low-traffic endurance riding close to services

River Torrens Linear Park Explorer

53.9km

230metres up

Low-traffic endurance riding close to services

Route notes

A city-based explorer joining the river corridor west toward Henley and east toward Athelstone.

Surface: Mostly sealed shared paths
Watch for: Some sections or alternate river banks may be gravel; remain on the sealed side and give way to walkers.

Starts Victoria Square

Guide Map GPX

07 Hard

Vineyard scenery on a predominantly separated corridor

Coast to Vines–Willunga Return

72.3km

600metres up

Vineyard scenery on a predominantly separated corridor

Route notes

A long out-and-back through the southern suburbs, McLaren Vale and Willunga.

Surface: Sealed rail trail and connecting paths
Watch for: Shared-path users and road crossings; verify any works or detours and turn before unsealed deviations.

Starts Hallett Cove

Guide Map GPX

08 Moderate

Flat distance using Adelaide's metropolitan cycling network

Outer Harbor Greenway Return

48.7km

130metres up

Flat distance using Adelaide's metropolitan cycling network

Route notes

A north-western urban endurance route from the CBD to Outer Harbor and back.

Surface: Sealed bikeways, shared paths and streets
Watch for: Numerous crossings and commuter sections; use current Bikedirect maps and obey any detours.

Starts Victoria Square

Guide Map GPX

09 Hard

A Tour Down Under-flavoured climbing session

Old Willunga Hill–McLaren Vale Loop

28.8km

380metres up

A Tour Down Under-flavoured climbing session

Route notes

A compact Fleurieu circuit built around the famous Old Willunga Hill climb.

Surface: Paved roads
Watch for: Steep climbing and descending on open roads; vineyard traffic can be busy on weekends.

Starts McLaren Vale

Guide Map GPX

10 Hard

Quiet-feeling hills roads and repeated climbing

Norton Summit–Basket Range Loop

41.7km

780metres up

Quiet-feeling hills roads and repeated climbing

Route notes

A compact hills circuit linking Norton Summit, Basket Range, Uraidla and Greenhill Road.

Surface: Paved hills roads
Watch for: Narrow lanes, blind bends and fast descents; visibility and conservative cornering matter.

Starts Victoria Square

Guide Map GPX

Take it with you

From this page to your handlebars.

1
Choose your ride
Check distance, climbing, surface and cautions before committing.
2
Download the GPX
Use the GPX button on any route or grab the complete Adelaide pack.
3
Sync to your computer
Import through Garmin Connect, Wahoo, Hammerhead, COROS or Bryton.

Before rolling out

Routes change. Check before you ride.

Hills traffic, harvest-season vineyard trucks and bushfire access rules can alter a route. Treat the GPX as a planning aid, ride to the conditions and follow signs on the day.

SA Government Bikedirect maps Tour Down Under Adelaide Bike Atlas

All ten. One download.

Your next Adelaide ride is in here.

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